An international bone marrow registry based in Boca Raton, the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, will hold its annual Boca Raton Run/Walk for Life on Jan. 17. The Gift of Life 5K (3.1-mile) run/walk to raise money for bone marrow transplants starts at Florida Atlantic University at 9 a.m. Kids can compete in the event’s Kids Superhero Sprint, which starts at 8:45a.m.
An awards celebration will follow. But just before the run/walk, at 8:30 a.m., in what promises to be an emotional first meeting, a three-year-old boy will meet the 22-year-old stranger who saved his life with a bone marrow transplant. Emcee, Boca Raton City Council member and chairman of the Community Redevelopment Agency Scott Singer, has personal ties to the cause. Singer’s mother-in-law, a bone marrow recipient, found her donor through Gift of Life.
This is the only South Florida event dedicated to raising awareness for bone marrow and blood stem cell transplants for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood-related diseases. Money raised from the Gift of Life 5K will help add new donors to the registry. The local nonprofit organization has a registry with more than 240,000 donors and has facilitated more than 2,900 transplants, according to an event press release.
The cost to walk or run is $30 but goes up to $35 the day of the event. There is no charge for children ages six years and younger.
Registration begins at 8 am at the Palm Beach Plaza, in front of FAU’s administration building. For directions and information, including how to donate to the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, go to giftoflife.org/bocawalk.
